Acknowledged as one of the most accomplished interpretive folksingers of the century, Joan Baez has influenced nearly every aspect of popular music in a career that has lasted nearly four decades. Her distinctive soprano was first heard at the Newport Folk Festival in 1959 and she has had virtually continuous success with her folk, folk-rock, country, and pop/rock albums. For virtually her entire career, Joan Baez has recorded and performed with her favorite guitar, a small-bodied C. F. Martin Vintage 0-45. In honor of Joan Baez' unparalleled influence on popular music and to pay tribute to her stellar career, C. F. Martin & Co. is proud to announce the Joan Baez Limited Edition 0-45JB Signature Model. There will be just 59 signed and numbered instruments in this limited edition, in honor of the year (1959) in which Baez launched her career. Joan Baez is the first woman ever honored with a Martin limited edition guitar. The edition is the first Artist Signature Model to be offered by Martin's highly successful and influential "Women and Music" Project. The guitar will be available only from authorized Martin dealers throughout the world.

A replica of Baez's priceless, pre-war, 1929 vintage 0-45, the Joan Baez Limited Edition 0-45JB is a rarer small-bodied 12-fret instrument with delicately scalloped top bracing. The guitar is handcrafted with Martin's highest "premium" grade selection of tonewood: a Sitka spruce sound board, and East Indian rosewood back and sides.

The two piece back has the Martin style 45 multi-colored mosaic inlay strip. The carved neck incorporates a modified V-shape with old style elongated diamond and pointed neck heel. The genuine ebony fingerboard is inlaid with the vintage Martin style 45 abalone snowflake inlay pattern. Highly colorful abalone pearl is inlaid around the rosette, as well as the perimeter of the top, sides, and back. Grained ivoroid binding compliments the abalone pearl inlay at all appropriate seams in the vintage 45 style.

Joan Baez's graceful signature will be delicately inlaid in pearl between the 18th and 19th frets. Each guitar will be personally signed by Joan Baez and by C. F. Martin IV, Martin's chairman and CEO with each instrument numbered in sequence (i.e. #1 of 59, #2 of 59, etc.). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Joan Baez 0-45JB Limited Edition guitars will be donated to "Bread & Roses," a charity established by Joan's sister, Mimi Farina. "Bread & Roses" is a nonprofit organization that brings free live entertainment into hospitals, convalescent homes, prisons, and other places that are less likely to experience entertainment opportunities.

Martin Guitar dealers will take orders for the Joan Baez Signature Models immediately, although the guitars will not begin to be available until the late summer of 1998.